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A grand political drama unfolded in Mumbai today as leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) came out on a protest march over the recent incident of a 35-foot-high statue of Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg collapsing down. The statue was installed only eight months ago by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Navy Day on August 4, and it was vandalized on the 26th of the same month.
politics and protest over Shivaji’s statue
The protest, branded as the “Jode Maro” march or “Hit with Footwear,” saw prominent MVA leaders—including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Nana Patole—leading the charge from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India. The march was well coordinated and well protected with a huge deployment of security forces under the supervision of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Police have cordoned off the Gateway of India to tourists and have deployed more policemen to deal with the expected riots.
BJP’s response
The BJP, the ruling party, did not take the criticism lightly and is planning to counter protests in Mumbai’s Dadar area. They say the MVA is politicizing the statue’s collapse to gain an advantage in the forthcoming elections. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis slammed the opposition, saying that they are politicizing the tragedy and asking what historic respect the opposition has for Shivaji Maharaj.
“Is the PM’s apology not enough?” Fadnavis asked, pointing out that past Congress leaders have historically undermined Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy. He referenced historical grievances, suggesting that the opposition’s current outrage is less about Shivaji Maharaj and more about political maneuvering. (Also read : https://test.inpactimes.com/womens-safety-a-call-to-action-by-pm-modi/)
The BJP’s counter-protest is intended to highlight what they claim is the opposition’s superficial respect for Shivaji Maharaj. Keshav Upadhye, a BJP spokesperson, denounced the MVA’s actions as “political stunt,” questioning whether similar protests would be organized for other controversies involving opposition leaders.
Probe over statue collapse on
The statue’s collapse has been attributed to what is being described as exceptional weather conditions, although investigations are ongoing. The Indian Navy, which handled the statue’s construction in collaboration with the state government, has established a joint technical committee to probe the incident. The structural consultant for the project is Chetan Patil, and he has been arrested for the collapse, which led to charges of culpable homicide and endangerment.
Prime Minister Modi has publicly apologized, stating, “Those who consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as their deity and have been deeply hurt, I bow my head and apologize to them. Our values are different. For us, nothing is bigger than our deity.” Nevertheless, the MVA has not taken him seriously when he offered an apology and they believe that his apology is politically motivated.
Another MVA leader and Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of the Parliament, Arvind Sawant, also rubbished the apology and raised his objection against the policies of the central government for Maharashtra. “This is not just a political protest; this is about the dignity of Maharashtra, which has been offended,” Sawant stated, which captured the passionate and patriotic feelings people in the region have toward the statue.
The development has further polarized Maharashtra politics, with the MVA accusing the BJP of attempting to hijack genuine protests with rallies of their own. State NCP legislator Sunil Tatkare belonging to the Ajit Pawar camp criticized the MVA protest, saying that it was politically incorrect to protest over the death of a person when both state and central leaders have tendered an apology.
While Mumbai is experiencing these events unfolding, the city’s police and security forces are on standby. These investigations and political exchanges show a deeper conflict of historical narrative, political responsibility, and popular opinion in Maharashtra. The future of the Shivaji statue and its symbolism will most probably remain an issue of debate while the politics goes on.
